Old Westbury, NY - The John Jay men's basketball returned to the win column on Sunday, closing out the week with a road victory against The College at Old Westbury Panthers. The Bloodhounds fed off of a career day by junior Jamir Stewart across every shooting category, finishing with 30 points (9-13 FG, 5-7 3PT) and two assists. Sunday's win marks five straight wins against the Panthers and the first win at the Clark Athletic Center since the 1996-97 season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Old Westbury jumped out to its largest lead of the game in the opening five minutes, shooting 5-8 from the field with a pair of successful three pointers to take an initial 14-2 advantage. After missing a trio of triples to start the game, Jamir Stewart scored the team's first three of the game to break the scoring run. Stewart accounted for five of the seven points in the 7-0 run that cut the hosts' lead to just five points. Richar Frias contributed back-to-back buckets in the paint before Keyshawn Miller dropped a three-pointer that cut the deficit to just four points, 20-16.
The Bloodhounds recorded the highest three-point shooting output of any first half this season, finishing the opening 20 minutes with six made triples. Jeremiah Cardi gave his side its first lead of the game with 5:19 remaining in the half with his first three of the game, 26-25. Stewart matched his best performance of the season in just the first half, 14 points, with his third three-pointer to give John Jay a 32-29 lead in the final three minutes. After Old Westbury briefly retook the lead, John Jay's Syl Granda converted a three-pointer as time expired in the half to give the Bloodhounds a 40-36 lead on the way to the locker room.
Omar Calderon and Miller combined to help push the Bloodhound lead to seven points to start the second half. Old Westbury answered back to pull within two points, but John Jay cemented its lead with an 8-0 run that was bookended by layups from Granda. The visitors led 51-41 after four and a half minutes played in the final frame. Stewart's shooting streak continued into the second half, as his sixth three-pointer of the night came with on a 4-point play that gave the Bloodhounds a 60-47 lead.
Both sides were trading baskets end-to-end through the middle stretch of the second half with the Bloodhounds maintaining a multiple-possession lead. Miller's contested drive to the rim with under eight minutes remaining was good for three points after a trip to the free throw line, and pushed the John Jay lead to 72-55 as part of a 5-0 run.
The Bloodhounds reached their largest advantage of the day, with 5:37 remaining in regulation when Miller pulled down one of his game-high ten rebounds and found Stewart on the run for a fast break lay in. The basket gave the visitors a 19-point lead.
Old Westbury tested the Bloodhounds with a 15-5 in the closing minutes, but a pair of successful free throws by Stewart ensured a double-digit John Jay win, and 30 points on the day, in the final seconds. The Bloodhounds finished the day with its best shooting game of the season so far, hitting 28 of 62 (.452) attempts from the field.
Jamir Stewart's 30 points topped all players and eclipsed his career-best mark of 26 last year vs Baruch. Jordan Evelyn contributed a season-high 16 points and 8 rebounds. Keyshawn Miller posted his best performance as a Bloodhound, finishing with a double-double of 13 points, 10 rebounds and 3 steals.
NEXT UP: The Bloodhounds kick off a three-game homestand at The Doghouse with a midweek match-up against Maritime College on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 7:00 p.m.
